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Episode 50
Underwater work (1)
Groan, groan, groan─.
As we left the stadium where the “curtain of silence” had been drawn, murmurs could be heard from all directions.
It was as expected.
The audience who saw Riley use “Lightning Magic” were all looking at her with suspicious eyes and whispering to each other.
In fact, the audience was limited to only the applicants who had passed the second screening test with us and a few administrators.
[Wow… … .]
anyway.
I let out a sigh of admiration.
[They look like they’re looking at a monster.]
Riley also nodded with a satisfied expression.
‘It seems that the purpose of publicity has been completely achieved.’
[huh.]
It was absolutely perfect.
The audience was still looking at Riley in astonishment.
Well, of course, it’s inevitable that those kinds of glances will be exchanged.
That would be the case, since it was unprecedented for a wizard who had not yet completed his second awakening to use the power of “attribute.”
“I can’t believe it… … .”
It wasn’t just the audience who had this perspective.
“… … I thought it was true that the attribute bloomed.”
Garon Theobald muttered as he approached Riley. He took a deep breath and asked a question.
“How on earth did you do it? You bloomed your attributes before even experiencing your second awakening.”
Experiencing “attribute blooming” before the second awakening was an act that went against the providence of magic.
A phenomenon that can never occur naturally.
Therefore, a normal magician would inevitably have questions about the process.
Of course, we’ve had our excuses for this question prepared a long time ago.
“I have come to an enlightenment.”
Enlightenment.
It was a truly abstract word.
“During the second selection test, during the final fight with Sir Theobald, something suddenly occurred to me.”
“… … .”
“I didn’t want to lose that feeling, so I locked myself in my room for five days and meditated, and before I knew it, I had achieved “attribute blooming.”
Enlightenment comes suddenly.
Also, the target is not limited, and the method or trigger is different for each person.
To that extent, ‘enlightenment’ was abstract and mysterious. It was somewhat difficult to explain it in detail to others.
What are you going to do if we achieve enlightenment? Well, even if I say something like that, there’s no way for the other side to tackle me.
“indeed…….”
Moreover, Riley was a genius that everyone could recognize. And geniuses are originally weak at explaining what they have experienced.
This is especially true if the field is ‘magic’.
Thanks to this, these kinds of vague excuses always worked well.
“… … My eyes were not wrong after all.”
As expected, Garon Theobald nodded with a look of understanding after hearing Riley’s answer.
“Riley, you are a genius.”
“… … .”
“Just don’t get caught up in your talent. Laziness is a more deadly poison than anything else. Just like now, steadily and diligently hone your talent… … .”
Anyway, he’s an old man who nags a lot.
Still, whatever.
Because this advice is meant to be helpful.
“Hey, Riley.”
“… … ?”
Suddenly, another voice was heard from behind.
We turned our gaze in the direction where the sound came from and saw someone walking towards us.
It was Becky.
“Ahem… … .”
Garon Theobald’s expression hardened slightly when he saw her.
Judging by the way he coughs and trails off, it seems like Becky is very uncomfortable.
I felt sorry for Grandpa Theobald, but I ignored him for now.
Now it was my turn to talk to Becky.
“Good job. I saw earlier that you had activated your lightning attribute?”
“Oh, yes.”
Becky came closer and smiled.
“Lightning… … Well, it suits your absent-minded personality quite well.”
I don’t know who is telling whom to be distracted.
anyway.
Becky muttered as she glanced around the audience.
“By the way, aren’t you even going to say thank you? I gathered all those people together for you?”
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Becky was the one who started the rumor.
Using dozens of clones, she let everyone know that Riley and Gilbert’s duel had come to fruition.
Thanks to this, managers and applicants were able to gather in less than half a day.
If it weren’t for Becky, Riley’s ‘property blooming campaign’ would never have been successful.
“Okay, hurry up and do it. You have to say thank you quickly.”
“… … .”
Becky, with a proud expression on her face, urged me to express my thanks.
But Riley responded without caring.
“If you look at it that way, Ms. Becky also passed the screening test thanks to me.”
“… … .”
“Okay, go ahead and do it. You should say thank you.”
Riley smiled as she echoed Becky’s words.
okay.
It’s unscrupulous of you to show off by doing this little errand when you passed the selection test thanks to us.
“Ugh… … .”
Becky, who finally had nothing to say, started to roll her eyes and grumble.
“… … Anyway, I won’t say a word until the end.”
Well, after that, the magicians sitting in the audience began to gather on the stage one after another.
“Wow! Amazing! As expected, it’s our Riley! How is she so pretty and good at magic? Gosh!”
Dorothy jumped up and down and heartily congratulated Riley on her “attribute blossoming.”
Now that I look at it, her voice and way of speaking seem a bit similar to Becky’s.
Except for the slight coquetry.
“Congratulations. I’m really curious as to how you achieved “attribute blooming.” If you were to write a thesis on that topic, you’d be a sure winner of the ‘Wizard of the Year’ award.”
Arpel Stingwood also couldn’t help but be impressed.
Of course, his interest was more focused on “Attribute Bloom” than on Riley.
“It was really impressive that you subdued Gilbert with one blow! That lightning magic was so fast! It was really amazing!”
In addition, there were also applicants who were speaking to me for the first time and came to say hello.
The name is Darin Underblade.
He is said to be a guy who passed the second test as a member of Pamela and Gilbert’s team. He was not someone with potential that was particularly noteworthy.
[Haam… … .]
At that moment, I yawned without realizing it.
It was boring.
The formal remarks of other applicants did not interest me.
Whatever they thought, it wasn’t my business.
In fact, what we should care about is not the reactions of these applicants… … .
Again─.
……okay.
That’s right, we need to pay attention to their reactions.
“Ahem.”
A gathering of all those who passed the second test.
Just as the conversation was in full swing, the auditorium, which had been bustling, suddenly became quiet due to someone’s cough.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Crack, crack─.
The sound of shoes echoing again.
Everyone’s eyes were all focused there.
“It just so happens that everyone is gathered in one place.”
Gray hair that reaches down to the ankles.
The incomprehensible smile that always hangs in the corner of the eyes and the leisurely gait.
[You’re finally here.]
It was the now all too familiar sight of the general manager.
Behind her, the other administrators we had seen in the hall of the ruins were following us, one by one, in a line.
“Hmm… … .”
The manager, who had stopped in front of the examinees, opened his mouth again with a languid smile.
“Then, may I take this opportunity to give you some additional information regarding the final selection test?”
No one answered.
The manager took the silence as an affirmative nod and answered.
“great.”
Taaak─!
Slurp─.
A parchment appears out of thin air with the sound of fingers snapping.
The manager accepted it with one hand, smiled, and slowly opened his mouth.
“Then, I will now give you additional notice.”
It was the beginning of the real final exam.
* * *
“As I said last time, the final exam is a one-on-one interview with each Tower Master.”
It’s a story I heard five days ago.
The final test was a one-on-one interview with each of the magicians.
The detailed content of the test varies depending on each tower. The result of passing or failing also depends on the mind of each tower owner.
[In short, they are trying to figure out the applicants’ tendencies through interviews.]
If the tendencies of the rooftop and the individual applicants match, they will pass, and if they do not, they will fail.
When you just hear the explanation, it seems no different from a normal interview.
“Each of the five great towers possesses one “naming right.”
[… …naming rights?]
I listened to the manager’s words as he continued to discuss the unfamiliar concepts.
After listening to her, I can summarize her explanation as follows.
Naming rights.
This was a one-on-one interview that would take place two days later, with each candidate being nominated by Matap.
The administrator began to explain this “place name right.”
“The applicant who receives the nomination will be the first to have an interview with the corresponding tower.”
For example, an applicant who receives a nomination from Matap A will be the first to meet Matap A.
“If the applicant’s admission is determined through this interview, all subsequent interviews will be cancelled.”
In fact, it is a structure where the top can take out applicants that it likes.
I think the naming rights can be seen as a kind of flirtation.
It’s like saying to the applicant, ‘Come to us. We will support you in every way. We have been watching you with interest throughout the selection process.’
‘So, does that mean that a wizard who receives the right to nominate has passed the selection test?’
[huh.]
Of course, if the wizard who received the nomination right doesn’t want to go to the said magic tower, the story would be different… … .
Well, how many cases like that would there be?
Just the fact that I can enter the five great towers is a blessing.
“Administrator! Administrator!”
That was when.
Dorothy, who was next to me, started jumping up and down and waving her hands.
The manager who saw her asked.
“Is this a question?”
“yes!”
Dorothy lowered her hand and answered brightly, then asked a question.
“Then what is the interview order for those who received more than two nomination rights?”
“Applicants can choose the order on their own.”
“Oh.”
There is even overlapping naming rights.
It would be quite a headache for the tower as well.
Because there will be a battle of wits over which candidate will be given the nomination right.
‘But, Master Magician.’
[why.]
‘If they’re announcing the nominations now, doesn’t that mean the list was already decided a day or two ago?’
Well, I guess so?
There’s no way I’m going to announce a list I made 10 minutes ago now.
‘Then there would be no reason for us to have our duel in public.’
[……uh?]
Is that so?
The list of “Nomination Rights” would have been completed before Riley could even announce that her attributes had bloomed…
[… … There really was no reason to have a public duel.]
Ugh.
I licked my lips with regret.
I should have started working on the attribute blooming just a day earlier.
No, I’ll just start right after the screening test is over and I recover in the temple.
Then, I would have definitely received the “right to nominate” in at least one place.
[But, well, we don’t really need to have the naming rights, right? Right?]
because…….
[Because we only have one choice, whether we get the nomination or not.]
‘That’s true.’
The naming rights were just a passing fancy.
The choice was up to the candidates.
And there was only one path for Riley and me to choose anyway.
Jan Lantes.
We will go to the “Lantes Tower” where that conman bastard reigns as the lord.
“Then, from now on, I will tell you the “place name” chosen by each magic tower.”
3rd floor, Grand Hall, Arpels Grand Hotel.
In this space where all the applicants held their breath, the administrator began to call out the names of the magicians who had received the “right to nominate.”
“First, the name of the Blue Tower of Eukria.”
“… … .”
The Eukaryan Tower.
The first magic tower established at the same time as the founding of the empire. It was a magic tower that solidified its power by producing a great magician named Ian Shishkin, taking root in the “Eucria School”.
Well, as you may know from hearing the name Ian Shishkin, it is a place that I have a deep connection with.
And the choice of this Eukaryan Tower is… … .
“… …Garon Edward von Theobald.”
It was Garon Theobald.
“hmm…….”
Nod nod─.
All the candidates nodded as if they agreed with the choice of the Ucria Tower.
Not a single person raised a question.
‘It seems like it’s a natural atmosphere.’
[huh.]
I thought that perhaps this atmosphere would continue.
Even though it requires a game of wits, most magic towers will still use their nomination rights on Garon Theobald.
That would be the case, as I have said several times, the Five Towers were a group that pursued perfected magicians.
And in the current empire, there is no wizard more accomplished than one who has reached such a high rank.
“Second, the naming rights of Dwight White’s Tower.”
“… … .”
“Garon Edward von Theobald.”
“Third, the naming rights for the Gaya-Violet Purple Tower.”
“… … .”
“Garon Edward von Theobald.”
As expected, the two following towers also used their naming rights on Garon Theobald.
“Wow, if this keeps up, isn’t Grandpa going to sweep away all the naming rights… …?”
Dorothy, who was standing next to him, muttered with her mouth wide open.
That must mean that Garon Theobald’s presence is overwhelming.
Titles such as Captain of the Magic Unit of the Western Front, Supreme Shield of the Empire, High-ranking Wizard, etc., have made his name worth the skyrocket.
I thought that unless something extraordinary happened, he would sweep away all the remaining magic tower naming rights.
“Fourth, the naming right of the Yadon-Grattan Red Tower.”
But there are always surprises.
And this change came to us not long after.
“Olivia Mage Triwizard.”
[… … Huh?]
A name I never expected.
The examinees’ suspicious gazes were all focused on Olivia.
Only Pamela nodded her head up and down with a frightened expression.
Nod, nod, nod─.
Oh, by the way… … .
Pamela was shivering in the corner, curled up on her knees with Gilbert, who was now unconscious.
Is it that scary just to have Olivia in the same space?
Now I was starting to feel a little sorry for him.
The Pathfinder that is said to be the best in Wilhelm looks like that.
How severe is PTSD… … .
[Well, by the way.]
Swish─.
Riley and I turned our gaze towards Olivia.
As she was receiving too much attention, she was always stammering and looking around at what others thought.
“Uh, uh uh… … .”
Bam─!
“… … Ah, ah!”
Someone hit Olivia’s back like this.
It was Becky.
“What the heck, you idiot, you’re from the Mage-Triwizard family?”
“Uh, uh, that’s… … .”
“Yeah! Then that talent makes sense.”
“Uh, uh uh… … .”
“But you’re quite the odd one out. With that kind of bloodline and talent, wouldn’t it be a shame to learn ancient magic?”
That was when.
“Rebecca Duncan.”
“What, why are you calling me, you old man?”
Garon Theobald, who was standing next to her, called Becky over with a displeased expression.
“You weren’t there to know, but Miss Olivia has managed to recreate the lost ancient magic.”
“……what?”
Becky replied.
“Don’t lie, old man. Who are you kidding now… … .”
“Oh, sorry to interrupt.”
The manager cut Becky off.
It appeared to be an action taken to prevent further delays in progress.
“What Garon Theobald said is true.”
“… … .”
“Miss Olivia has realized ancient magic. The Lord of the Red Tower of Yadon-Grattan is intrigued by her abilities.”
“Uh, uh… … . Huh? Really?”
Becky looked dumbfounded at the manager’s testimony.
[Well… …. If it’s Yadon-Grattan’s choice, then it’s not particularly strange.]
As far as I know, the first Lord of the Red Tower, ‘Yadon-Grattan’, was also an ancient magic otaku like Olivia.
As befitting their identity as red, the early ‘Yadon-Grattan’ used powerful magic such as wide-range magic as their main weapon.
Of course, as time went by and firepower became unnecessary, its reputation declined a bit… … .
However, thanks to the aggressive nature unique to the sect, it has not been pushed out of the “Five Great Towers” and has maintained its position well.
In the meantime, since Olivia had succeeded in performing ancient magic, it was only natural that Yadon-Grattan, who wanted to regain his former glory, would take notice of her.
[You were good at reading people’s eyes.]
With everyone focused on Garon Theobald, the ‘Yadon-Grattan Tower’ could be seen as a wise choice.
anyway.
Forget about the strange incident that made the auditorium noisy for a moment.
“Finally, the fifth.”
Now it was time to hear who would get the final nomination.
“This is the naming right of the Colorless Tower of Lantes.”
Jan Lantes.
Who will that fucking kid choose?
“… … .”
Stop.
The manager paused for a moment as he examined the edge of the parchment.
Sigh─.
[… … ?]
A meaningless smile played on her lips.
“Riley.”
“… … .”
“The Lord of the Tower of Lantes, Jan Lantes, has used his right of nomination directly on Riley.”
